i:U NINETEENTH REPORT. 



has changed during the last twenty years, from a preponderance of 

 attendance over membership to that of membership over attendance. This 

 may be ascribed chiefly to negligence in removing names from the rolls ; 

 but is also in great measure due to the fact that even actual members 

 no longer faithfully attend the services. 



I have visited a number of the rural and small town churches in the 

 nortli central states ; and almost witliout exception liave found similar 

 conditions prevailing. The congregations are reduced, and there is a 

 noticeable indifference on tlie part of all except tlie few faitliful old 

 people wlio form the nucleus of whatever interest remains. These are 

 the sole vestiges of a once dominant faith, that is gradually passing 

 away. Upon questioning the older residents, I have been informed that 

 a generation or more ago their churches were filled to overflowing at both 

 preaching and Sunday school services. But somehow "people have fallen 

 out of the habit of going to church," so the religious life of the country 

 community is on the wane. There is, therefore, no room for disputing 

 tilt- fact that the rural cluirch of today represents a serious problem. 

 And unless an adequate solution is provided, it may soon cease to be a 

 factor in rural life. 



The situation in the country churcli, however, is not essentially different 

 from tljat in the churdies of our cities. The last few years have brought 

 about almost as striking and significant developments in the latter. There 

 is a steady falling off in attendance at both the Sunday and the mid- 

 week services. Even the coming of a distinguished religious leader, once 

 the occasion for a general turnout, now attracts no more than passing 

 attention. There is undoubtedly no diminution in the number of names 

 upon the rolls, nor in expenditure for usual purposes. But the growth 

 in membersliip is not proportional to the growth of population ; nor are 

 the expenditures keeping pace with the rising cost of living. Moreover, 

 tlie very fact that people, while contributing to the upkeep of tlie church, 

 are absenting themselves from its meetings, is an ominous presage for 

 the future. It is not human nature to long continue to support an institu- 

 tion which presents no compelling interest, and from which no direct 

 personal benefits are derived. The city, therefore, is struggling with a 

 religious depression that is fundamentally no different from that of the 

 open country. 



If the straightened circumstances of the country church are the more 

 acute, as they undoubtedly are, tlie cause may be attributed to its repre- 

 senting the marginal members of the institution. Country church 

 organizations may be said to be on or near the margin in that they are 

 able only to meet the absolutely necessary running expenses, with possibly 

 a small surplus for benevolences. The city church, on the other hand, 



